Important Medical Information

There are some pieces of information that are very important to know and have easily available in any home. 

When one moves countries, it is not easy to know where to turn in time of emergency. 

We hope you never have the need, but if you do or someone you know needs, here is a valuable piece of information. 

If someone swallows a problematic substance, Israel has a Centre for Poisons which is situated in Haifa. 

The contact information is as follows:  

   Israel Poisons Information Centre Rambam Medical Centre 

   PO Box 9602 Haifa 31096 

   Director: Dr Y. Bentur 

   Telephone: +972 4 854 2725 

   Emergency telephone: +972 4 854 1900 

   Fax: +972 4 854 2092 

   E-mail: ipic@rambam.health.gov.il 

In the event you or someone you know needs to contact this centre, have ready:

• the name of the person who swallowed something, 
• age of the person, 
• how long ago, ie how much time has lapsed between swallowing the substance and calling the centre
• what was swallowed. 

The Centre for Poisons will then provde instructions as to what to do, where to go to for treatment or if the person can be treated at home. When acting speedily, there are times the problem can be resolved just by calling to the centre. We hope you never have the need for this information, but keep it close at hand. 

When someone does a First Aide course in Israel, one of the first pieces of information provided is this telephone number to call and what information to provide. 

Keep well, stay healthy and enjoy being in Eretz Yisrael.

Magen David Adom and United Hatzola

Recently I came to learn of an interesting service now offered through a connection made between Magen David Adom and United Hatzola. If one calls Magen David Adom for an ambulance, especially when it is after hours and the ambulance fee is higher, they first send a paramedic from Hatzola. The Pareamedic is often able to assist the person at the place they were called from thus saving the ambulance fee. 

The Hatzola paramedic arrives within minutes and in a caring, professional manner will do whatever first aid can be provided. In the event an ambulance is needed, the Hatzola paramedic will inform Magen David Adom and an ambulance is sent.

However, when they are able to administer assistance immediately and an ambulance is no longer needed, the family is then saved the cost of the ambulance which can be a saving of 800 Shekkels.

Both United Hatzola and Magen David Adom provided very necessary services. I am not sure enough of the behind the scenes work, but it was brought to my attention that United Hatzola is in need of funds to keep up with all the life-saving costs involved in the work they are doing.

If you are able to make a donation to assist, please do so here and inidcate that the donation is for assisting in the important work they do for so many in our country.

Of course we daven daily for the Final Geulah, but in the meantime, there are times medical attention and first aide is required.

If you are able to assist please do so now and we will be happy to pass on a group donation.

New Customer Service at Misrad HaBriyut - 2

In a previous post we began to share the exciting news that Misrad HaBriyut, the Ministry of Health now has a Customer Service.

I am pleasantly surprised that the new customer service actually calls to follow up. At least they have so far.

Once again the customer service can be reached on *5400.

The hours for this service are 8 am - 6 pm Sunday to Thursday and 8 am - 1 pm on Fridays.

There is a new fax number too, which is 02 - 5655997

Try them and enjoy.

Actually, this time they even spoke to me in English and were happy to help me with the spelling of something I needed to prepare a cover letter for a fax in Hebrew.

Let us know how you progress. If you enjoyed good customer service, please let us know to encourage other Professional Olim.

NEW: Customer Service at the Ministry of Health

I had occasion to call the Ministry of Health, in Israel of course, for the umteenth time in the last few weeks. I prepared myself something to do while waiting for the length of time until someone actually answers. I called the number that usually goes through to the person related to my profession and what a pleasant surprise. In only a few rings the call went to an option of Hebrew or English. I did not wait to listen further. 

2 -  For English, sounds good to me. OK, I got a Hebrew speaker but someone answered.

Yes, the Ministry of Health has a new service, a Customer Service. You get to speak to a real person very quickly and the person will pleasantly ask who you need to talk to, the nature of your need, your name, Id Number (so have it ready if you dont know it by heart) and your contact phone number, and a promise that someone will get back to you in 48 hours.

All you ahve to do to call the customer service is dial *5400.

I dont know how you get to talk to an English Speaker if you need it, perhaps just try talking in English instead of admitting you speak Hebrew. Of course if you would like to practise your Hebrew, go right ahread and enjoy the opportunity.

It has only been a few hours, so I cant yet tell you if they actually return your call after 48 hours, but so far it is a vastly improved service from calling and calling and calling and calling and waiting for the person you need to get through to.

For those wanting to learn a little Hebrew, Ministry of Health is Misrad HaBriyut or משרד הבריאות

New Regulations of the Ministry of Communications

Below you will find a list of new regulations in the communication field. Please read them carefully but try to understand this is like a “newborn”. It will take time to implement them, it will take even longer to get used to them and teach companies how to adapt to them.

It is up to us, the consumers, to make these laws become a reality. Right now they are only on paper and, as a diamond, will need polishing.

I have created a prototype of a small claim form for you ready to be served in court. You will find instructions on how to use the form on the second page. After filling out a few blank lines concerning the main points only, you will be able to present your case in court, even in low-level Hebrew.

The New Regulations - Effective as of 2011

• The commitment period will be reduced to 18 months in the cell phone industry;
• Lower mobile fares when making overseas calls - similar to a stationary phone call, the consumer pays only to the supplier abroad without having to pay additional fees (double) to the mobile operator in Israel;
• Everyone will have the option to block SMS services;
• Customer service centers, (run by the Israeli mobile operators) must attend/respond to clients within 24 hours (for emergencies only);
• Cancellation “penalties” in the communications field: Companies will be allowed to charge up to 8% of the average invoice value – multiplied by the remaining months until the end of liability;
• Cellular operators will be required to offer routes that allow setting limits in advance on the level of expenditure: As soon the bill reaches 75%of his allocation, the consumer will receive an alert and choose whether to increase the amount;
• The E-mail mobility: Soon it will be possible to leave your Internet provider and “move” your existing e-mail address to any other competitor, for a period of six months, free of charge;
• Contracts: The essential points in a contract must be presented in one page only;
• Payments for services: Will be permitted only by the written permission from the consumer;
• Cellular operators will be required to advertise all of their rates on their websites;
• Privacy and Secrecy: Cellular operators will be required to delete the details of the client`s payment at the end of the contract;

I hope you can enjoy your new consumers’ rights in this new year and don’t forget to use the two ultimate weapons you have: Your wisdom and the small claims courts.

 Sincerely,

Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law

Tax, VAT and Customs Offices in Jerusalem

When one makes Aliyah, it is nice to find those who will help you out by doing certain bureaucratic tasks for you. However, as much as no-one likes bureaucracy or to have to spend time waiting in long queues, it is in your best interest to familiarize yourself with where certain key offices are. I highly recommend taking off a morning, take with you something to nosh on, something to drink and something to read or, Tehillim to recite. 

For those living in or around Jerusalem, head off to 66 Kanfei Nesharim Street, Givat Shaul. There are several buses that go there. The offices are open from 8 or 8.30 in the morning to 1.30 in the afternoon.

In this building you will find the Tax Offices, VAT and Customs Offices. Spend some time getting to know why you would need each of them, where the necessary forms are, what you need to take with you when you need any of these offices and any other quesitons you might have.

If you are considering working indpendently, take with all your questions and plenty of time to go from floor to floor, office to office, until you have gathered all the information you require.

A word of warning, even if you are hiring an accountant to do your books and fill in your yearly tax or VAT report, make sure you know where these offices are and find out the laws yourself. 

Once you have found out all you can about these office, the next step is to find out all you can about Bituach Leumi. This we will cover in another post.

Never presume that if you hire a professional that all your accounting needs will be taken care of. You dont' want to land up in the situation where you suddenly find your accountant did not do something crucial, you did not pick it up as you were ignorant of Israeli accounting, Taxes etc and were daunted by all bureaucratic offices. It is better to be prepared, so early in your Aliya, before the need arises, take the time to get to know these offices and any necessary procedures. Information, familiarity and knowledge is invaluable and can save you unnecessary "Tzorres" later on.

Tax in Hebrew is MasHachnasa or מס, VAT is מע"ם and Customs is Meches מכס

Israel Distributes Gas Masks Nationwide

We really prefer to post happy articles, however, this information is important for all Olim.

Israel has begun its nationwide program to provide protection kits with gas masks to every citizen in the country, and for the first time ever, the IDF Home Front Command has teamed up with the nation's Postal Service to distribute the equipment.

The campaign is being carried out to ensure that every Israeli will be protected in case of chemical, biological or other attack that could temporarily threaten one's ability to breathe.

Citizens are able to obtain their kits in two ways ­ either by going to one of several distribution stations currently in the process of opening up throughout the country (which usually involves long waits in line) or by calling the Israel Postal Service and asking for the kits to be mailed directly to the home.

Israelis choosing the second option are asked to call the Israel Postal Authority's 171 hotline and coordinate a time for delivery of the kit to the home. The delivery service costs NIS 25 per household.

HOME DELIVERY

Gas masks ordered now by phone will be delivered to your door for NIS 25 for your entire family - (you don't pay for each mask - this price includes as many gas masks as you need for immediate family members).

The fee of NIS 25 is billed by credit card for phone orders.

You must provide Teudat Zehut numbers for family members when making the order over the phone.

If you have an old gas mask kit in your possession you must return it to the messenger in order to get your new gas mask and kit.

Phone now to order kits for your entire family: Tel: 171
NOTE: be patient, there is wait time to get through.

Call 171 and expect a long wait each time. Don't hang up, use the time for other productive work while you're waiting. Have your calendar in front of you, as you must arrange a date and time (when you'll be home) for the delivery. Have the Teudat Zehut numbers ready when you call. You'll also need a credit card number for billing.....

Note: Home Front Command may be reached by dialing 1207 from any telephone in Israel.

May we never need to use these, but we have to be informed.

Since charity saves from life, and helping a Jew with something we ourselves need enables our prayers to be answered first, we ask you to join us in helping a fellow Jew obtain what he needs in order to breathe. His situation is different, but it involves the right and ability to breahe freeling and easily. Please visit Torah Online Website and help to Save the Life of a fellow Jew. In the merit of your kindness, may we be protected that no Jew in Israel need to use the masks mentioned in this article.